Casket handling apparatus



De. 23, 1941. COLLINGS 2,267,324

CASKET HANDLING APPARATUS 4 Filed Nov. 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 7 DAVID A .COLLINGS W QM m ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 23, 1941 D, A, COLLINGS I 2,267,324

CASKET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20, 1940 2 Sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

DAVID A.COLLINGS ATTORNEY 5 patented Dec. 23, 1941 David A. Collings, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor a Saul I. Fineman ApplieationNovember 20, 1940, Serial Noi 3662389 (Cl. 27Z6) 11 Claims.

This invention relates to casket handling apparatus; and more particularly to improvements in theparts by which a casket -ispreliminarily supported in position over'thegrave prior-to lowering ofthe same.

ln-apparatus of this character, there is porting structure surrounding the. grave and having lowering straps extending transversely of the longitudinal side members. of such str-uc-- ture by which the casket maybe lowered into the grave.- In order to-faeilitate--positioning of I the casket over the grave and: lowering straps,

the use of roller supports extending inwardly' of the longitudinal-side members has been'proposed. Where such rollersupports are. employed, it is necessary thatthey-be-mounted-for movement from an operativesupporting positionunder the casket to an inoperative supporting position permitting lowering ofthecasket' into It is also desirable-thatmechanism be provided for effectingsimultaneous movethe grave.

ment of the supports to and from their operaa tive supporting positions.

One of the principal objectsotthisinvention is to provide an improved arrangement of mechanism for moving casket supporting rollers to and fro between operative and inoperative-- supporting positions.

A further object is-to provideacasket-supporting device and operating mechanism there-- for which may be readily-andeasily appliedtothe supporting standards provided with conventional lowering mechanism.

A further object is to providea casket supporting member pivotally mounted for swing-ing movement toand fro between operative and inoperative supporting. positions with. anovel form of actuating mechanismtherefor.

A further object is to provide: actuating mechanism for a movable supporting member of the character referred to-in which there is; provided a rockable actuating member whichis efiective on a single throw: or. rockingmovement thereof to either move the supporting member to or from its operative supporting position.

Other objects and advantages of i the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter. fully described, and" par ticularly pointed out'in the claims, the following description and the annexed-drawings setting-'- iorthin detail certain illustrative embodimentsusu'-- ally provideda rectangular enclosure and sup- .on-the. line It-lof' Fig. 4;

Figzfiisa sectional :view taken substantially on the: line "E -8 of Fig. 2; parts of the apparatus of the invention, these beingindicative however, of but a few of "thevarious ways in which the principle: of theinvention may be employed.

In; said: annexed? drawings- Fig: 1 is a top plan view of a caskethandling apparatus. constructed in accordance with the principles of' this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side ellevational viewpt the ap paratus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is; an end elevational view of the ap-- paratus shown in Figs; 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a-broken away Vertical sectional view of a part. of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; illus trating I the. arrangement of the supporting rollers, and: actuating mechanism therefor with the supportin'g' rollerslin an operative supporting position;'

Fig; 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. fl, showing the position of the supporting rollers and" actuating mechanism thereforafter being moved to inop erative supporting position;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View takensubs tantially on. the line .6 -6: of Fig; ,4; A

Fig. '7' is a; sectional .view" taken substantially being: broken" away;

Fig. 9 is axsectionallview taken on the line 9 -9 of Fig: 8;:

Fig;..10 is: an enlarged." broken away sectional View illustrating the construction of the pivotal connection between the rockable actuating member and "the'connecting link shown in Figs. 4

and 5; and

Fig. 11 isan end viewillustrating a motion reversing connection employed in connection with the mechanism. by which simultaneous movement'- is imparted to all of' the supporting rollers.

Referringto Figs. 1, 2. and 3 of the drawings} there is shown a casket supporting and lowering 'device comprising cornerposts I having longitudinal. supporting: members 2 and trans-- verseconnecting members 3 extending between the endposts l to: provide a rectangular sup- The. supporting structure. is. also provided with longitudinal bracing mem-' The porting structure.

bers '4 and. transverse bracing members 4. members 2, 3, 4 and 4' are preferably telescopically constructed; to permit adjustment of the corner posts I for various size graves.

Lowering straps 5 extend transversely of the supporting structure and have their end portions respectively reeled about the opposite longitudinal..

members 2, the supporting structure being provided with conventional lowering mechanismg (not shown) for controlling the unreeling of the straps and thereby the lowering movement of the casket carried by the straps. The parts of the apparatus thus far described form no part of this invention other than in combination with the supporting mechanism to be described.

In order to facilitate positioning of the casket over the straps 5 and. to support such casket independent of the straps 5, a plurality of frictionless supporting rollers 6 extending inwardly of the supporting members 2 are provided. The supporting rollers 6 are preferably located adjacent the straps 5 and are carried by a collar 1 rotatably mounted on the supporting members 2, the connection of the rollers 6 to the collars I being such to permit swinging movement of the rollers 6 with the collars I with respect to the supporting members 2. To effect movement of the supporting rollers 6 from their operative supporting position shown in Fig. 4 to the withdrawn position shown in Fig. 5, each of the supporting rollers 6 is provided with a pivotal connection 8 at its outer end to an actuating member or link 9, the link 9 being provided with a pivotal connection It to a rockable actuating member I I carried by a rock shaft I2 extending longitudinally of the corner posts I. Each of the supporting members 2 has associated therewith one of the rock shafts I2 which carries all the actuating members II for the rollers 6 associated with such supporting member 2. As best shown in Fig. 8, the ends I3 of the rock shafts I2 are rotatably journaled in the end posts I. The rock shafts I2, similar to the members 2, 3, 4 and 4', are formed oftelescopically receivable parts I4 and I5 to permit adjustment of the overall length thereof,.in accordance with the position of the corner posts I. A clamping devioeI6 is provided for securing the parts I4 and I5 in a fixed position of adjustment. The part I4 is provided with a pivotal connection I! to the part I3 adjacent thecorner posts I. The pivotal connection I 1 permits swinging movement of the part I4 with respect to the corner posts I from the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 8, to the position shown in dotted lines upon disassembly of the structure by withdrawal of the part I4 from .the part I5. The movement of the parts I4 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, provides a more compact structure when the parts are disassembled for shipping from one site to another.

To move the rollers 6 from the operativesupporting position shown in Fig. 4. to the withdrawn position shown in Fig. 5, the actuating shaft I2 and actuating member II carried thereby, are rocked in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5. This rocking movement pulls the pivot pin I6 inwardly toward the corner posts I, and the link 9 will pivot about the point 8 to cause and permit swinging movement of the rollers 6 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5. To move the rollers 6 to their operative supporting position, the member II will be rocked in a clockwise direction. By this arrangement, a comparatively short rocking movement of the actuating member II in a single direction will be effective to move the supporting rollers 6 to either an operative supporting position or a withdrawn position.

Referring to Figs. 4, 7 and 10, it will be noted that the pivot pin I6 is secured to the actuating member II, and is engageable in a slot I8 formed in the lower end of the link 9, thereby providing a. lost motion connection between the link 9 and actuating member II. This lost motion connection provided by the pin and slot I8 and I8, is provided to facilitate movement of the parts to the withdrawn position. The actuating member II comprises externally threaded end parts IE! and 20 having engagement with an internally threaded adjusting member ZI. This construction permits adjustment of the effective length of the actuating member II between the shaft I2 and pivot pin I6, in order to adjust the position of the rollers 6 when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4. The lost motion connection between the link 9 and actuating member II is necessary in order that this adjustment may be had.

The link 9 is preferably constructed from a U-shaped channel having the slots I8 formed in the sides thereof for engagement with the pin I6 and so arranged to provide a part 22 extending inwardly of and engageable with the outer end of the actuating member II to limit rocking movement of the member II in a clockwise direction. Any tendency of the parts to move beyond the position shown in Fig. 4 will be prevented by engagement of the part 22 with the surface 23 at the end of the actuating member II, the part 22 fulcruming about the pivot If) into engagement with the surface 23. The part 22 is provided with a lug 24 engageable in a slot formed in the outer end of the actuating member I I, as best shown in Fig. 10, for limiting outward movement of the link 9 with respect to the actuating member II. The lug 24 moves into its slot upon movement of the actuating member II to the limit of its clockwise movement. Movement of the actuating member II in a counterclockwise direction will be prevented by the link 9 moving into engagement with the actuating member II upon movement of the parts to the position shown in Fig. 5. In this manner, the rocking movement of the member II is limited to movement back and forth between two positions. These two positions, through the link 9, determine the operative and withdrawn positions of the roller 6, and such roller will be moved back and forth between these positions as the member II is moved back and forth between its limited positions of rocking movement.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that each of the collars I carries a pin or roller 25 extending laterally outwardly therefrom in a direction parallel to the supporting members 2. The pins 25 are engageable with the upper surface of the straps 5 and are effective to insure that the belt 5 will always be below the supporting surface of the rollers 6 so as to not hinder movement of the casket to a position over the supporting straps. The pins 25 also function to make the lowering mechanism for the straps 5 available as an additional support for the rollers 6. The pins 25 also operate to cushion the initial lowering movement of the rollers 6 under the weight of the casket when the actuating members II are rocked in a. counterclockwise direction to shift the weight of the casket to the lowering belt. The pins or rollers 25 also act as a guiding element for the strap 5 when the strap 5 is unreeling with respect to the members greases;

atop-lower the casket and: therollertiis inthe' position shown in Fig.

A manual operating lever 26 is secured to. one" of the shafts. or. actuating. members 12. As best shoWn1in.F"ig..11,.the ends of thesshafts. 12 are provided [with oppositely positioned. arms 21:con,- nectedtogether by an adjustable link 28in such manner: that when one of the shafts- I2 is moved in one direction the other:shaft l2 will be moved in an opposite direction, to effect simultaneous movements of the rollers 6 It will be apparent thatv the shaft; [2, associatedwiththe side of the. supporting structure opposite thatshown in Figs. 4 and 5., must be moved in a direction opposite that of Ithe shaft lz -shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The motion reversing connection shown in Fig. 11'enables simultaneous opposite movement of the rocking shafts l2 to effect simul taneous movement of all the supportingrollers to andfrom their operative supporting positions.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there is provided a novel and simplified arrangement of mechanism for moving the rollers 6 from a withdrawn to an operative supporting position. It will also be apparent that the parts 9 and H comprise a linkage system which enables a manually operable lever, such as the lever 26, to move the rollers 6 from a withdrawn to an operative supporting position by a single short rocking movement of such lever in one direction from one position to another. It will also be apparent .that the simplicity of the actuating mechanism readily enables its application to conventional casket lowering mechanisms with a minimum of expense and without interfering with the operation of the lowering mechanism.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In casket handling apparatus, a support, a casket supporting member pivotally connected to said support for swinging movement with respeot thereto from a withdrawn vertical position to an operative horizontal supporting position, a rockable actuating shaft, motion transmitting means operable upon movement of said shaft in one rotational direction to move said supporting member in an opposite rotational direction comprising an actuating member connected to said shaft for movement therewith, and a link having pivotal connections with said actuating and supporting members, and a manually operable lever connected to said shaft for imparting a rocking movement thereto, said motion transmitting means being effective upon a single throw of said lever to move said supporting member from one of its positions to another of its positions.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said actuating member and link are provided with interengageable parts at their point of pivotal connection for limiting movement of said actuating member and shaft in one direction, said supporting member being in its operative supporting position when movement of said actuating member by said parts is thus limited.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pivotal connection of said actuating member with saidllink isa pin and'slot connection permitting, relative movement of the point of pivthe length of saidactuating member: is adjustable. for the; purpose: of adjusting the operative supporting position of? said supporting member with respect to said" support.

5. In casket handling apparatus having a pair of parallel supporting bars, a plurality of "supporting members. connected. to each of said bars for; swinging. movement: with respect thereto from a withdrawnlvertical position to an opera-- tive horizontalsupporting.position, each of saidbars-having; axrockabl-e actuating shaft associatedtherewith-andparallel thereto, each of said shafts. having..motion transmitting means operable upon movement of such shaft in one rotational direction to move the supporting members on its associated. bar in an. opposite rotational direction, said means comprising a separatelink pivotally connected to each of said members, and an actuating member pivotally connected to said link and secured to one of said shafts for movement therewith, and common actuating means for both of said shafts comprising a manually cperable lever connected to one of said shafts for imparting movement thereto, and a motion reversing connection between said shafts effective to move the same in opposite rotational directions upon movement being imparted to one of said shafts, said motion transmitting means being effective upon a single throw of said lever to actuate said shafts to move all of said supporting members from one of said positions to another of said positions.

6. In a casket lowering device having parallel bars, a temporary support member having a portion thereof rotatably mounted upon one of said bars, a rock shaft extending parallel to and below such one parallel bar, and toggle links connecting said rock shaft with another portion of said temporary support, said links lying between said rock shaft and saidone parallel bar when said temporary support extends downwardly in withdrawn position.

7. In a casket lowering device having parallel bars, a temporary support member having a portion thereof rotatably mounted upon one of said bars, a rock shaft extending parallel to and below such one parallel bar, and toggle links connecting said rock shaft with another portion of said temporary support, one of said toggle links overlapping the other in such manner as to form a substantially rigid load bearing connection between said rock shaft and said temporary support, when said temporary support is in operative horizontal position.

8. In a casket lowering device having parallel bars, a temporary support member having a portion thereof rotatably mounted upon one of said bars, a rock shaft extending parallel to and below such one parallel bar, and toggle links connecting said rock shaft with another portion of said temporary support, one of the toggle links being fixedly secured to said rock shaft and oscillating in an upwardly opening arc when said temporary support is moved from operative to inoperative position.

9. In a casket lowering device having parallel bars, a temporary'support member having a portion thereof rotatably mounted upon one of said bars, a rock shaft extending parallel to and below such one parallel bar, and toggle links connecting said rock shaft with another portion of said temporary support, one of the toggle links being fixedly secured to said rook shaft and oscillating in an upwardly opening are when said temporary support is moved from operative to inoperative position, the other link being freely pivoted upon said temporary support at one end thereof and means at the other end restricting pivotal movement thereof when said toggle links are in alignment.

10. In a casket lowering device having parallel bars, a temporary support member having a portion thereof rotatably mounted upon one of said bars, a rock shaft extending parallel to and below such one parallel bar, and toggle links connecting said rock shaft with another portion of said temporary support, said links lying between said rock shaft and said one parallel bar when said temporary support extends downwardly in withdrawn position, said links being in alignment when said temporary support is in horizontal operative position, there being means present restricting the pivotal movement of one link with respect to the other when said links are in alignment.

11. In a casket lowering device having parallel longitudinal bars connecting by transverse bars with corner posts receiving said bars and wherein the longitudinal bars have belts connected from one bar to the other, a means for temporarily supporting a casket prior to the same being supported and lowered upon said belts, said means comprising temporary supports mounted so as to rotate freely on said longitudinal bars, rock shafts extending parallel to and below said longitudinal bars and being supported in said posts, toggle links connecting said rock shafts with said temporary supports said toggle links having restricted pivotal movement so as to sustain a load upon said temporary supports and a lever operable to actuate said rock shafts and said temporary supports in unison.

DAVID A. COLLINGS. 

